installing 5v usb port in car for charging

[adam_lincs]

Hi,

my phone (which I also use as sat nav) has usb charging, as do most phones nowadays, and most phones that will ever be made for the forseeable future.

at the min I (and prob most of us) charge our phones in the car using something like this....

I thought it would be better to have a USB port installed somewhere near where the phone is kept, and just use a small usb-usb lead for charging, rather than using the bulky cig lighter charger with the curly cable strung across the gear stick / steering wheel to dash mounted electronics (usb power can power phone, sat nav and other stuff that now uses usb 5v power)

so, just wondering if anyone had done this before. and also wondering if a LM7805 voltage regulator would do the trick (with a fused 12v feed)

 

[LEE69]

Easy option (but i like your idea) is to get a spare lighter socket and hide it behind the glovebox and feed the cable through.

 

[andy_lang]

Ive seen on here someone fitted an iphone docking base to the car - like just infront of the gear stick. Looked properly neat!! but why not simply hard wire your current charger into the car?

Ive done that - but as i have satnav, Gatso detection and Laser / radar detection all off the 12v ciggy - I installed a multi-sig socket thingy up under the dash so each device can be plugged in (thus keeping each own fuse) and then the main units hard wired into the car. Works a treat and all wires are hidden behind the dash

 

[PhilW]

I like these...

http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=489767

5v.

 

[Murdered LCR]

I have one of those very good just install one hidden in the dash like lee said

 

[adam_lincs]

yeah did think i'll just wire up a normal charger somewhere behind the dash. do like that belkin product tho.

the thing putting me off the LM7805 is they can get hot apparantly...

 

[OFI]

Before you go spending £20 on one of those Belkins I got mine on Ebay still in the packet from some sort of Belkin reseller for about £6

I was going to mount a usb port in one of the spare buttons in the centre console, I think it's the far right one of the rear screen heater buttons.

I too was going to use an LM7805 and made myself a little heatsink and mounting bracket that fitted inside the button. But then lost interest